​The Plot:Angela Davis has been serving her time at Brunesfield Correctional Facility for several years and her release date is finally in sight. She will miss her close friends and bunkmates, Issie and Cara, but she cannot wait to leave Brunesfield, find her brother, Charlie, and get back to a normal life. When a tiny new girl, Jessica, arrives and is sent straight to the Seg Block (the area where the most dangerous girls are kept in isolation), she captures everyone’s attention and comments, but when Angela has an unexpected encounter with Jessica, she knows two things immediately – Jessica is very different than anyone she has met before and she is just as dangerous as they have been lead to believe. Strangely, Dr. Gruen, a new social worker and scientist, starts working at Brunesfield on the same day that Jessica is admitted. When Dr. Gruen approaches Angela with a special assignment to try to bond with Jessica, Angela is sure that something suspicious is going on, but she’s willing to try anything that will get her early release, even if it could be a threat to her life.

Why It's Worth Reading:Suspense with a bit of something paranormal in a unique setting - who doesn't want to read that? Burning captured me as soon as I started reading it. It is a page-turner from beginning to end, keeping readers guessing as Angela learns more and more about the latest arrivals to Brunesfield. Despite Angela's admitted flaws, you find yourself rooting for her at each new event. The setting is a fascinating look into life in a youth prison - the rules, the roles, the corruption, the surprises. If you are the kind of reader who likes the action of a book to take off from page one and never stop, Burning might be the perfect book for you.

Book Details:ISBN: 9781619637382Format: HardcoverPublisher: Bloomsbury Publishing, Inc.Publication Date: April 5, 2016Source: School Library Connection (Full disclosure: I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. An additional review can be found at a future date in SLC magazine.)Do We Own a Copy?: We will order copies once the finished text is available to the public.

The Plot:Though she grew up in Chile, Tina hasn't been there, or seen her father who still lives there, since the rest of her family left eight years ago and she has no desire to go back. But her mother is getting remarried and her father has insisted that she spend the entire summer in Santiago with him. Tina had hoped for a glimpse of her old Papa, the fun loving, soccer-playing goofball he was before he was jailed as a political prisoner of the Pinochet regime and his outlook became darker. Unfortunately, between his political activism and heavy drinking, Papa can barely find a moment to spend with her. Luckily, she meets mysterious, exciting Frankie who shows her the city from the back of his motorcycle. Can he really be the prince he seems to be or is this new love interest simply too good to be true?

Why It's Worth Reading:Not to be repetitive, but man, I love it when a book that really entertains me also teaches me something new. Despite feeling like a pretty well-educated and curious person, I admit to knowing practically nothing about Chile or its history. Surviving Santiago painted a crisp picture of the city and its surrounding areas, as well as of the Chilean people and culture. Most prominently, it shed a light on the Pinochet regime and the years of political unrest that Chile suffered through in the 1970s and 1980s. To see Tina's father struggling with his passion for his country and people but his extreme distrust of the political system in place made the history real for me. That's my favorite thing about historical fiction. Isolated, removed (from my life) events from the past become palpable moments in time when I see them through the eyes of a person, real or imagined. It's always been that way for me. If you feel the same way, grab this book. I found it captivating.

Book Details:ISBN: 9780762456338Format: HardcoverPublisher: Running PressPublication Date: June 2, 2015Source: School Library Connection magazine - I received an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for my review. My complete review can be found in a future edition of SLC magazine.Awards: 3 great reviews, 1 of them starredDo We Own a Copy?: ​Yes!

The Plot:Lydia, the Lee family's middle and favorite daughter, has disappeared throwing her whole family into turmoil. The disappearance forces hidden information about Lydia into the open. She wasn't the popular, well-liked girl that her father, James, had hoped she would be, but a quiet loner with only one unpopular friend. She wasn't the star student that her mother, Margaret, thought she was, but a girl who was quietly failing several classes and ambivalent about her mother's goal for her to become a doctor. She had secret habits that her brother, Nathan, didn't know about and she snuck out of the house on occasion, which only her sister, Hannah, saw. Who was the real Lydia Lee and what happened to her?

Why It's Worth Reading:The story of the Lee family has so many layers. I saw so many students in the characters as they drove themselves toward academic and social success. I was fascinated by social justice aspects addressed by James feeling marginalized by his racial and cultural background and by the Lee's feeling isolated as the only mixed-race family in their community. The family dynamics felt so true - in their assumptions, in the things left unsaid, in the strange way that love is manifested. The writing style was so purposeful and had such incredible pacing. I felt frantic when the Lee's felt frantic and exhausted and wrought alongside their worries. I don't feel that I directly resemble many of the characters in this book, yet I feel that I can relate to all of them. If that's not a great piece of fiction, I don't know what is.

The Plot:Kamala Khan is just an ordinary teenage girl from New Jersey until one night, in a moment of danger, she finds herself empowered with superhuman abilities. She has idolized The Avengers and Captain Marvel, but can she become a superhero in her own way? And how will she reconcile that with her regular life - Muslim upbringing, strict parents, high school responsibilities?

Why It's Worth Reading:Finally! A mass-marketed, highly-promoted series about not only a teenager, but a person of color! I can only imagine how many little kids have been longing for a superhero who looked like them or represented their culture. Ms. Marvel is a step in the right direction. And it's got the amazing graphics and color of a Marvel publication combined with a realistic and exciting story written by graphic novel authority G. Willow Wilson. Plus, I think the villain, The Inventor, is going to be pretty awesome. We just barely meet him at the end of this volume, but he's obviously superhuman and seems to create all kids of creepy mechanical drones and minions to serve as his army. I don't tend to read books beyond the first in a series, but I might go back for more of Ms. Marvel. I'm hooked!

Book Details:ISBN: 9780785190219Format: PaperbackPublisher: Marvel Worldwide (duh)Publication Date: October 30, 2014Source: NHS LibraryAwards: On ALA's Top 10 Great Graphic Novels and Top 10 Quick Picks lists in 2015Do We Own a Copy?: Most definitely. And Volume 2 is on its way!

The Plot:This is the true story of a group of African-Americans serving in the deeply segregated U.S. Navy during World War II. At the naval base in Port Chicago, California, black soldiers were required to load volatile explosives onto ships with no training about proper handling or understanding of safety protocol. No white sailors or officers were expected to do such dangerous work. Unsurprisingly, there was eventually a devastating explosion that killed and wounded numerous men on the base, most of whom were black. After several weeks, when the remaining sailors were ordered to begin loading explosives again, they refused and were accused of mutiny.

Why It's Worth Reading:How intriguing is a story about mutiny? Or about a group of underdogs standing up for their beliefs? This is a landmark event in U.S. history, one that stimulated change in the Navy's policies about the segregation of soldiers, but many are unaware of it. It is a quick and exciting read that totally grabbed my attention like a great piece of fiction, but taught me some incredible lessons as well. If those reasons aren't enough, it's got a 1 in 5 chance of winning the YALSA Nonfiction Award this year and it won the National Book Award for YA last year. Who doesn't love an award winner?

Book Details:ISBN:9781596437968Format: HardcoverPublisher: Roaring Book PressPublication Date: January 28, 2014Source: LibraryAwards: YALSA Nonfiction Finalist 2015, Library Journal Best Book of 2014, National Book Award 2014Do We Own a Copy?: 2!

The Plot:Jaden is obsessed with electricity. It is one of the few things in his life that makes him feel calm and happy. One of his many psychiatrists taught him to focus on it whenever his mind wanders to the bad parts of life, like his Romanian mother giving him away at age 4 or his adoptive parents, Steve and Penny, who “pretend” to love him, even though he's "troubled". How can he believe that they really love him now that they are adopting a new baby from Kazakstan? When the initial adoption fails, Jaden hopes that they can just return to the United States, even though, after 4 years, it still doesn’t feel like home to him. But then he meets Dimash, a toddler with special needs, and wonders if maybe it wouldn’t be so horrible to have a little brother. Maybe having a brother would finally allow him to feel love?

Why It's Worth Reading:Jaden's emotions really shine through and touch the reader. I was both sympathetic to Jaden and frustrated with him at different points in this book. There aren't a lot of books from the perspective of an adopted child, especially one who was adopted internationally. I was able to put myself in Jaden's shoes and understand how hard it must be to wonder if you fit into your own family. As a parent, I wanted Jaden to see how much Penni and Steve really love him, but I can understand why he would be confused. Half a World Away opened my eyes to the some realities of international adoption that I was unaware of and opened my heart to those who, like Jaden, have a hard time connecting with the people around them.

Book Details:ISBN: 9781481418065Format: ARCPublisher: Atheneum Books for Young ReadersPublication Date:Source: Library Media Connection review copyDo We Own a Copy? on order

The Plot:Josh and Jordan Bell are identical twin basketball phenoms, ruling their 8th grade team. They are following in the footsteps of their father, a former professional basketball player, their hero and role model. Josh’s life has always been simple – basketball and family – but things are changing. Jordan starts spending most of his free time with a girl instead of with Josh on the court. Tension continues to arise between Josh’s parents over mysterious health concerns that are not shared with the twins. Josh funnels all of his frustration and confusion into his game, but begins to realize that basketball may not be the answer to every question. Why It's Worth Reading:Josh shares his passion for basketball and love of his family in short, verse chapters that are engaging and compelling and will draw in even reluctant readers. The basketball descriptions are realistic and regular. The characters are interesting and diverse, and the chapters are so quick and short - you just fly through the pages. If you like Walter Dean Myers, you will love The Crossover.

The Plot:Darius and Twig are best friends. Though they are different races and pursue different passions, the potential they see in each other binds them together as they struggle through the realities of daily life in Harlem. Darius is a great reader and writer. His work has potential to be published in magazines, but it’s a little too dark for the masses right now. He wants to get a scholarship and go to college, but the odds of his life are stacked against him. Twig is tremendous track star. He lives to run and thinks of nothing else, but his family wants him to give up on his dreams and take over the family store. Combine these challenges with school bullies, daily neighborhood violence, and all of the normal issues of high school life for an intense, dramatic story about the true power of friendship.

Why It's Worth Reading:Walter Dean Myers is a YA genius. I would read anything that he wrote just because he wrote it. He creates realistic story lines and characters that demonstrate a perfect blend of gritty honesty and hope. His stories almost always feature characters of color living or working in urban settings, which is why this was the perfect book to read for my 2nd Diversity on the Shelf post. If you liked any of Myers' other books (like Monster or Lockdown), definitely read this book.

I finished my first book for the Diversity on the Shelf Challenge. March: Book One made the Great Graphic Novels list, so I've been wanting to read it for a while. Sounds like a win-win for me!The Plot:March: Book One is based on the life of current Congressman and triumphant Civil Rights leader John Lewis. Lewis grew up in Alabama and experienced the oppresion brought on by segregation and the Jim Crow laws. His strong faith reinforced his feelings that all people should be treated equally and fairly, but he was disappointed that he never heard such messages from local ministers and preachers. That ended when he first heard Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. speak for the first time. He began working with Dr. King and practicing non-violent resistance with other university and seminary students in Nashville. The book details Lewis' experience learning to practice non-violence and applying it during department store lunch counter sit-ins. Why It's Worth Reading:How often do we get to hear a true story of a significant moment in American history described in clear detail by a person who actually experienced it? How often is that incredibly rich tale detailed by equally rich and poignant art? This book is visually and emotionally stirring. It can be read in half an hour but will have you thinking about it for weeks. I'm truly looking forward to Book Two.

Did you get a chance to attend on of the FYFT presentations yesterday? Wow. I really hope so. I missed all of the school sessions so I found myself at the Novi Public Library last night. Once again, though it's hard to leave my family behind and go back into the world for a grown-up, non-pajama clad evening, it was absolutely worth it.Ben & Janine run FYFT (From Yesterday, For Tomorrow). They spoke all day with students yesterday (& then again last night) about their experiences as Holocaust researchers and educators which led them to create the FYFT non-profit group. Their goal is to spread awareness of how prejudice infects people using major historical events, like the Holocaust, as examples and illustrations. Here's my big take-away:

There are three different levels of prejudice and discrimination. Populations do not go from zero to genocide overnight. The hateful messages that bring about mass murders start at a 1. cultural level, with small statements, name-calling, and messages that it is ok to think you are better than another person. When these cultural messages become widely known and accepted, it becomes possible to give them 2. legal ramifications, in which the government makes it technically allowable for one group to have fewer rights than another. This legal "right" to prejudice is what gives oppressors the idea that they are justified in 3. persecution, actively attacking entire groups of people to the extent of violence and death. And it all starts with those little comments; the ones that people pass off as inocuous jokes or acceptable jibes.I think I'm a fairly smart person. I read like it's going out of style. But in all of my reading and learning, I've never seen these ideas broken down so clearly & logically.Follow FYFT on Twitter (@FYFT) or Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/FYFTCharity?fref=ts). I'm expecting big things from them.